The Hidden Cost Of Cryoablation
As you can see, based on the information above, Determining the cost of your Cryoablation procedure is not as simple as ordering a meal from a popular fast food chain (—number 3).
The procedure itself is easy, safe, and relatively quick. However, always remember that breast cancer is a journey. If possible, you should not base your decision on cost alone. You are not buying a procedure, you are buying into a relationship. Your doctor will still need to follow you up and continue monitoring you in the months ahead of your procedure.
To address the cost question with a number —that’s what you would like to know, you have to consider the following scenarios:
If the provider is located in your area
If this is the case, just give him or her a call and ask. If they are not able to provide a concrete number, they might be able to give you a price range. Keep in mind that Cryoablation machines and disposables (cryoprobes) are expensive equipment; therefore, the procedure itself tends to be costly across all providers. Expect to hear prices in the order of $5,000 to $10,000. If multiple placements are needed this price may be higher.
If the procedure is covered by your insurance
In general, insurance companies consider Cryoablation an experimental procedure. That means that even if you have good insurance, the procedure may not be covered. In that case, you will have to pay out of pocket.
If the procedure is covered by your insurance plan, determining the cost of the procedure is harder. Insurance plans are purposely overcomplicated and it is hard to tell how much is covered and how is your responsibility. If your plan has high copays, deductibles, or coinsurance, it is possible that you may be responsible for some or all of the cost of the procedure. If you plan to do your cryoablation at the beginning of the year, it is possible that you have not met your deductible, therefore your out of pocket responsibility might be very high.
Feel free to call your health insurance company and ask if cryoablation is covered. Mention the procedure codes ?????, ???? —also known as CPT code, and ask about your eligibility and what would be your payment responsibility.
If the provide is located outside of your area
In addition to the cost of the procedure, you now have to consider traveling expenses. This does not have to be a bad thing. Being diagnosed with breast cancer is a unique unpleasant situation. It takes so much out of you that even reading this article must feel exhausting. If you have to travel for Cryoablation, this might be an opportunity to get rid of breast cancer but also to recharge. When considering your choice of providers, definitely look at their qualifications and experience, but don’t lose sight of this situation as an opportunity to restart. You may be traveling with a loved one that has been supporting you throughout this process. You deserve not only to get rid of breast cancer in a quick and safe way, but you deserve a time to breathe, rest, and start fresh.
Conclusion
Talking about pricing is delicate. You probably don’t have money in a jar labeled “for cryoablation”. If you are in the process of figuring out if cryoablation is right for you, you probably want to know the exact cost of the procedure, but please be patient with yourself. The final price will be determined by the specific treatment that you will receive (your doctor can help you assess that), the cost of traveling and lodging, additional costs if you are traveling with a loved one, and finally, if your insurance can alleviate the cost of the procedure.
Keep in mind that aside from the direct cost of the procedure, you may have some wiggle room when it comes to minimizing the related costs. My practice is conveniently located in Myrtle Beach, a cute little beach town in South Carolina. I observed that many of my out-of-state patients choose to drive rather than fly, and spend a few extra days in the area. I negotiated lower hotel rates for my patients, and I partnered with a third-party company that offers fair-rate, unsecured loans to help with the cost of the procedure.
I hope this is helpful.